It’s Red Grouper season in (State) Gulf waters, so we’ve been enjoying it immensely. When cooked, Red Grouper’s flesh is bright white and it has a delicious, mild flavor (I’ve heard it described as a cross between Halibut and Bass). It’s tender, flaky and lean, and the sturdy texture can handle just about any cooking…
Yummy Shrimp Cakes
It occurs to me that this is my second recipe for a seafood patty in one week. But since I’ve heard that eating ring-shaped foods at the new year brings luck and fortune, this should be a really good week for us all! This is something I’ve wanted to try for a while so I’ve been saving…
Tasty Salmon Patties
When I grew up in southern Massachusetts, our fish diet was pretty limited — cod, haddock and steamers were staples, but there was also the occasional salmon. No, I’m not talking about the fresh fillets like we have easy access to today, I’m talking about canned salmon. It was tradition in our house to have salmon…
New Year’s French Meat Pie
Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe 2015 is behind us, but I’m already looking forward to everything 2016 may bring. And to celebrate New Year’s Day I made something special to honor my family’s French-Canadian roots. Tourtière (meat pie) originated in Québec and is a treat typically made for Christmas or New Year’s (sometimes,…
Key Lime Pie Bites
Recently, my husband and I attended a party at Old Florida Outdoor Center in Englewood, Florida, to celebrate their 6-month anniversary. If you haven’t visited this beautiful store on Dearborn Street, you must go soon! The owners, Kenya and Danny Leonard, carry beautiful Florida art, offer several creative classes, schedule kayak rentals & guided walks…
Spicy Pumpkin Bread
It’s a gloomy, rainy day in southwest Florida due to a front coming through, but hopefully it will bring some cold, holiday-type air with it! Despite my strong desire to simply curl up on the couch with a blanket and my cats, I decided to be somewhat productive and headed to my kitchen. So, with…
Gingerbread Cookies!
It just wouldn’t be the holidays if I didn’t showcase gingerbread cookies! I love to make them because they’re cute, delicious, and fun to decorate. I’ve tried many recipes, including the one in my grandmother’s box, but have had the best luck using one from Rick Rodgers’ Christmas 101 book. I found the recipe many…
Roasted Cod in Banana Leaves
Today was my day to try something new! But if you’re thinking it was something like sky diving, learning how to play the accordion or scaling Mount Everest, well, you’re incorrect. . . Cooking fish or poultry in banana leaves has always sounded like such a cool thing to do. So, as I sat on…
Roasted Spicy & Sweet Chickpeas
You can call them chickpeas or garbanzo beans, but ultimately they’re just plain yummy and I’ve loved them since I was a kid. These funny looking legumes are not only tasty, but also, high in protein, fiber, iron and magnesium. And, as my doctor reminds me, beans are extremely beneficial to us (well, me, especially)…
Quinoa, Date & Tangerine Salad
In our house, we LOVE quinoa (pronounced keen-wa). My husband especially loves to find a batch in the fridge because it offers a healthy, protein-packed snack before he heads to the gym. As for me, I love the fact that it’s so easy to prepare, it’s delicious, and you can pull a salad together quickly…
Salmon with Dill & Dijon Sauce
If you’re like me, celebrating the holidays is is not only a joyous time, but also, and easy opportunity to overindulge! So, after clearing the first hurdle of the holiday season (Thanksgiving, that is), it’s time for my household to take a pause and get back on track with our healthy eating. Yes, Christmas and…
Mini Pear & Fig Galettes
Armed with one remaining sheet of puff pastry, one overripe pear and some fig jam that’s been in my fridge too long, I set out to make a dessert. And since pears and figs make a naturally good team, I knew I couldn’t go wrong with whatever I came up with. . . I love…